Text by Megan and Madison, students at Presque Isle Middle School
Edited by Presque Isle Historical Society
In 1870, Aroostook County had no railways. The primary transportation was by horse and wagon. Houlton and Fort Fairfield were the first to get rail service. The residents of Presque Isle, seeing the growth brought by the railroad, were desperate to have train service and approached the New Brunswick Railway (later known as the Canadian & Pacific). The railroad agreed to bring a spur to Presque Isle providing the citizens paid for the rail to be laid. In December of 1881, the C & P steamed into town for the first time.
Sources:
Presque Isle Historical Society. “A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Presque Isle, Maine”. Brochure. Presque Isle, 2007.